Netball body suspends woman charged over alleged antisemitic slur at kids' game
An Australian netball governing body has suspended a woman charged over an alleged antisemitic slur at an under-12 girls' game in Sydney. Jewish community leaders said the incident reflected a troubling pattern playing out on sporting fields.
An adult spectator allegedly used an antisemitic slur during an under-12 girls' netball game played in Sydney's western suburbs over the weekend. The New South Wales Police said the woman had been arrested on charges of using offensive language motivated by hatred and would face court.
Netball Australia and the relevant state federation said the person involved had been suspended from all official activities pending the outcome of the investigation. Officials said updated codes of conduct for players, coaches and spectators would be rolled out by the end of the year.
Jewish community leaders said the incident was not isolated, citing a rise in similar reports across football, cricket and rugby venues in recent months. The federal government said it was working with states on a joint framework against hate speech in sport, and the education minister indicated that anti-racism modules for young people would be added to school curricula soon.
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